Researchers studying population of lizards from the genus gallotia on the canary island compared the protein cytochrome b in different populations.

Complete question:

Researchers studying populations of lizards from the genus Gallotia on the Canary Islands compared  the protein cytochrome b in different populations. The table shows the number of differences in the cytochrome b protein between different populations (You will find the table in the attached files).

Which conclusion about the relatedness of the lizards do these data support?

2. G. simonyi and G. bravoana are the most closely related

Explanation:

Genetic diversity refers to gene variability among species that differentiate them and allows them to adapt to different environments. The genetic charge of one species differs from other species´ genetic charge.

By looking at the table, you can see the number of differences in the cytochrome b protein between different species. This absolute value located in the intersection between two species represents how different are from each other.

So, the smaller the number, the closer are the species. The bigger the number, the farthest away are species.

G. stehlini seems to be the most different, as it shows high values (between 36 and 49) with all the other species. Probably this species was the first one to diverge from the rest during evolution.

On the contrary, G. simonyi and G. bravoana express only 4 changes. They are very similar to each other and share a recent common ancestor which means that they were the last two species in diverging.

a and c are the answeres